Mithapur bus stand. Telegraph picture

Patna, Sept. 6: Beef-up in security through increased deployment of policemen at the notorious Mithapur bus stand in Jakkanpur has failed to reduce the terror of criminals.

A month after the murder of Ravikant Choudhary, a transporter, at the hands of criminal Kundan Singh, more policemen have been posted at the stand and patrolling increased.

Sources, however, said police presence has failed to remove the lurking fear of Kundan’s henchmen. The henchmen have been making rounds of the bus stand and threatening bus operators with dire consequences.

After the murder on July 27, eight armed policemen replaced two homeguard jawans, who had been deployed there earlier.

A policeman at the outpost told The Telegraph: “Apart from the eight policemen, there are also 10 constables and a party of a havildar and four constables. There is also a sub-inspector who co-ordinates the security. A patrol team from Jakkanpur police station also makes frequent rounds. We are on round-the-clock duty. Things are fine here now.”

An employee of the bus stand, however, refuted the police claim and said: “Things are not very fine here. The situation has not changed much since the murder. Last evening, a group of men claiming to be associates of Kundan Singh came here and started threatening the agents and employees of buses. Though Kundan is in jail, he wants to maintain his reign of terror. Hence, his men have been directed to come here to create problems and instil fear among us.”

A special team of Patna police, in association with the special cell of Delhi police, arrested Kundan Singh from the Mukherjee Nagar area of New Delhi on August 13.

Singh is at present lodged in Beur Central Jail.

As proof of his claim, the employee pointed out that no policemen could be seen at the different gates at the bus stand.

At the entrance, only one policeman armed with a stick, stood on guard.

Asked where the other men in uniform were, a police officer said: “They must be making rounds. The bus stand is huge and the police have to look into all the corners. Hence, they are always on the move. The police are not sitting idle. We have been on our toes since the July incident.”

Most bus operators dodged questions on Kundan Singh.

“There is no point talking about this. I really don’t want to land in trouble. I am a only small fish here. Don’t ask me all this,” said an operator.

His colleague, who was more forthcoming, chose to whisper. He said: “Kundan Singh is still the king here. He has dominated this place for years now. The incident in July caused a spurt in fear. Singh might be in jail but his still rules the roost. His men are everywhere. The police roam around outside the bus station, near the autorickshaws.”